title: Individual differences in the physiological effects of forest therapy based on Type A and Type B behavior patterns.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In recent years, the physiological relaxation effects of natural environments have been widely exploited, and although individual differences in the effects of forest therapy are known, assessment methods have not been clearly established. This study used a classification based on Type A and Type B behavior patterns to explain individual differences in physiological responses to forest environments.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed physiological experiments in 44 forest and urban (controls) areas. In total, 485 male university students (age, 21.8 ± 1.6 years) participated in the study. The subjects were asked to visit forest or urban environments randomly and observe each landscape for 15 min. The subjects' pulse rates and blood pressures were tested to evaluate their physiological responses. The Kwansei Gakuin daily life questionnaire was used to identify Type A and Type B behavior patterns in subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The pulse rate was significantly lower in the Type B group after exposure to forest areas than after exposure to urban areas, whereas no significant difference was observed in the Type A group. In addition, the pulse rate was significantly lower in the low scoring subjects in the Type B group, which was consistent with changes in their diastolic blood pressure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that individual differences in pulse rate and blood pressure in response to forest environments can be explained by Type A and Type B behavior patterns.
authors.affiliation: Center for Environment, Health and Field Science, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan. ymiyazaki@faculty.chiba-u.jp.
authors.forename: Chorong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Harumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ikei
authors.forename: Juyoung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Bum-Jin
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Takahide
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kagawa
authors.forename: Yoshifumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
mesh_terms: D001519:Behavior / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D004777:Environment; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D014197:Trees; D055815:Young Adult